Awning operator



Dec. 5, 1933. N Euslus 1,938,140

AWNING OPERATOR Filed Feb. 4, 1932 3 e E8 as X Hi ,9 20 15 E7 r15 g/ 4 r 1 18 M Q 4 *mm I 28 58 2Q Inward-5f" Patented Dec. 5, 1933 PATENT OFFICE AWNING OPERATOR Frederick N. Elisius, Chicago, 111.

Application February 4,

p 10 Claims.

The invention relates generally to awnings and more particularly to an operator for raising and lowering an awning.

The primary object of the invention is to produce a simple, rugged and efiicient operator acting to raise and lower the awning with comparative ease, to maintain the awning frame against upward and downward displacement, and to shirr the awning as an incident to the raising of the awning frame.

Another object is to produce a device of this character wherein easy operation is insured through the provision of a counterbalanced worm and worm gear actuating means.

Another object is to provide an improved awning operator adapted for actuation from the inside of the window upon which it is used.

Another object is to provide such an operator which may, through substitution of one of its more simply formed parts, be adapted for use on different sizes of awnings.

' Another object is to provide such an operator which is capable of operation from the outside aswell as the inside of the window. c

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which: a

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a window frame equipped with an awning and an awning operator embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is anenlarged horizontal sectionalview taken through one side of the window frame and above the operator.

Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view taken through the operator substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the operator along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is herein illustrated in association with a window frame 10 having top, bottom and side members 11, .12 and .13 respectively, and provided with an awning 14. The awning is made from canvas or other flexible material, and is connected at its upper end to the upper member 11 of the window frame, while at its other end the awning is connected to the cross bar of a 'U-shaped awning frame 15.. The ends of the awning frame 15 are 'pivotally connected to the side members 13 of the window. frame to permit operation of the awning frame from a lower operative position to a substantially vertical raised position.

--One side ofthe awning .frame 15 is pivotally 1932. Serial No. 590,867

supported by a bracket 16 of usual construction while the other side of the frame is pivotally supported and actuated by my improved operator, generally designated by the reference numeral 17.

The operator 17 comprises a housing 18 secured to the side member 13 by screws 19 extending through flanges 20 formed on the housing 18. In the housing 18, a shaft 21 is rotatably mounted, parallel to the window frame 10 and projecting outwardly of the housing 18 for connection of its reduced non-circular end 22 with a similarly formed opening 23 on the end of the awning frame 15. The frame 15 is held in place on the end 22 of the shaft 21 bya pin 24.

On the shaft 21 within the housing 18 a worm gear segment 25 is fixed for actuation by a worm 26 which is also mounted within the housing. The worm 26 is fixed on a shaft 27 which is journaled in the housing 18 perpendicular to the plane of the window with its ends extending outwardly of the housing. A sleeve 28 removably but non-rotatably secured on the inner projecting end of the shaft 27 has a loop 29 formed thereon forv detachable engagement by the hooked end of an operating handle or crank 30. The collar 28 and its loop 29 extend into an opening 31 formed in the frame of a screen 32 so that by raising the lower sash of the window, the operating handle 30 may be used to actuate the operator from the inside of the building. A somewhat similar sleeve or collar 28 with a loop 29' is fixed on th outer projecting end of the shaft 27 and permits similar actuation of the operator from the outside of the building.

The worm and worm gear connection provided between the shafts 27 and 21 serves to lock the awning frame in any desired position and prevents undesired swinging movement of the awning frame.

In the use of an awning, it is desirable to shirr the material of the awning as it is raised so as to prevent shading of the upper sash of the window, and to this end suitable means is 100 provided to shirr the awning as an incident to the actuation of the operator 17. As herein shown three ropes 33 are connectedat spaced points to the cross bar of the awning frame 15 and extend upwardly beneath the awning 14 and pass through pulleys 34 mounted on the cross member 11 of the window frame beneath the awning 14. The ropes 33 are gathered together and all pass through the pulley 34 which is lo- .cated directly above the operator 17 and their 110 ends are connected to a common yoke or ring 35 so as to provide for actuation of the ropes in unison.

, By drawing or tightening the ropes 33 by means of the ring 35 as the awning frame 15 is raised, the material of the awning may be shirred, and such a shirring action is preferably obtained as an incident to theraising of the awning frame. For this purpose a relatively flexible wire 36 has one end connected to the ring 35 and extends downwardly therefrom past the operator 1'7 and around a pulley 37 secured to the lower end of the frame member 13. The wire 36 then extends upwardly and once about a flanged wheel 33'fixed on the shaft 2'7 out- To maintain the wire side of the housing 18. tightly wound about the wheel 38 so as to insure actuation of the wire by the wheel, a yielding force is constantly applied to the wire. Preferably this force is applied by means comprising a spring actuated winding drum 39 mounted in a section 18 of the housing. The drum 39 is rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft 40 (Fig. 4),and encloses a helical spring 41 fixed at its opposite ends to the shaft 40 and a drum 39 respectively. The section 18 of the housing extends over the projecting end of the shaft 2'7 and the wheel 38 (Fig. 3) and an opening 42 is provided therein through which the end of the wire 36 extends for connection with the winding drum 39, such a connection being illustrated at 43 in Fig. lof the drawing.

The spring 41, acting constantly upon the wheel 38, serves as a counterbalance, offsetting the weight of the awning and awning frame and insuring easy operation of the device.

The rotational movement of the shaft 2'? is the same for all sizes of awnings but it will be seenthat the amount of movement required for theropes 33 is dependent upon the'length of the side members of the awning frame 15, and in order that the operator may be used for different sizes of awnings, the wheel 38 is removably mounted on the shaft 2'7 so that a proper size wheel may be used for each size of awning. To this end the wheel 38 'is slipped on the squared and reduced end 44 (Figs; 3 and 4) of the shaft 2'? and is removably held in place thereon by the collar 28, which is in turn fixed in place by a pin 45.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides an operator of simple and rugged construction which operates to maintain the awning in any desiredposition of adjustment and which shirrs the awning as an incident to the raising of the awning frame. It will also be clear that the operator is of such a character that it may. be readily adapted for use on different sizes of awnings;

I claim as my invention:

1. An awning operator comprising a housing adapted to be secured on one side of a window frame, a first shaft journaled in said housing and having one end projecting therefrom for non-rotative connection with an awning frame, a Worm gear fixed on said shaft, an actuating shaft mounted in said housing transversely with respect to said. first shaft, and having a worm thereon engaging said worm gear, said actuating shaft having one end extending out of said housing, and a wheel detachably and non-rotatively secured on the projecting end of said actuating shaft and adapted for operating the shirring-ropes of an awning.

2. An awning operator comprising a housing adapted to be secured on one side of a window frame, a first shaft journaled in said housing and having one end projecting therefrom for non-rotative connection with an awning frame, a worm gear fixed on said shaft, an actuating shaft mounted in said housing transversely with respect to said first shaft and having a worm thereon engaging said worm gear, said actuating shaft having one end extending out of said housing, a wheel'for operating the shirring rope of an awning, said wheel being adapted to be moved endwise onto said actuating shaft to non-rotative connection therewith, and means for fixing said wheel in place on said shaft.

3. An awning operator comprising a housing adapted to be secured on one side of a window frame, a first shaft journaled in said housing and having one end projecting therefrom for non-rotative connection with an awning frame, a worm gear fixedon said shaft, an actuating shaft mounted in said housing tranversely with respect to said first shaft, and having a worm thereon engaging said worm gear, said actuating shaft having one end extending out of said'hous ing, a wheel detachably fixed on said actuating shaft for rotation therewith, a flexible member wound about said wheel and adapted to be attached at one end to the shirring rope of an awning for operating the same, and means for maintaining said flexible member tightly wound about said wheel whereby to insure actuation of said member by said wheel. 1

4. An awning operator comprising a housing adapted to be secured on one side of a window frame, a first shaft journaled in said housing and, having one end projecting therefrom for non-rotative connection with an awning frame, a worm gear fixed on said shaft, an actuating shaft mounted in said housing transversely with respect to said first shaft, and havinga, worm thereon engaging said worm gear, said actuating shaft having one end extending out of said housing, a wheel detachably fixed on said actuating shaft for rotation therewith, a flexible member wound about said wheel and adapted to be attached at one end to the shirring rope of an awning for operating the same, and a spring actuated winding drum mounted on said housing and connected to the other end of said flexible member to maintain the same tightly wound about said wheel.

5. An awning operatorcomprising a housing adapted to be secured on one side of a window frame, a first shaft journaled in said housing and having one end projecting therefrom for non-rotative connection with an awning frame, a second shaft journaled in'saidiframe and having one end projecting from said housing for detachable connection with an actuator, a geared connection in said housing between said shafts, a wheel detachably fixed on one of said shafts outside of said housing, a flexible'member wound about said wheel and adapted at one end to be attached to the shining rope of an awning for operating the same, and a spring actuated winding drum mounted on said housing and connected to the other end of said flexible member to maintain the same tightly wound about said wheel. 7 V

6. An awning operator comprising a housing adapted to be secured to a window frame, a pair of shafts journaled in said housing and having a geared connection therebtween, one of said 1 shafts extending from said housing for nonrotative connection withan awning frame and the other of said shafts extending from said housing and beingadapted for connection with an actuating means, a wheel actuated in timed relation to said shafts, a flexible member adapted at one end to be attached to the shirring rope of an awning, and a spring actuated winding drum carried by said housing and connected to the other end of said flexible member to maintain said member, tightly wound upon said wheel. v

7. In an awning construction for use over windows or the like, the combination of an awning frame adapted to be pivotally mounted on the frame of a window, an awning secured at one edge to the awning frame and adapted to .be attached at the other edge to the frame of the window, an operator having a gear connection with said awning frame for raising and lowering the same, means connected to said awning frame for shirring said awning, and a connection between said operator and said means operable to actuate said means to shirr the awning when said awning frame is raised.

8. In an awning construction for use over windows and the like, the combination of an awning frame adapted to be pivotally mounted on the frame of a Window, an awning secured at one edge to the awning frame and adapted to be attached at the other edge to the frame of the window, an operator having an actuating shaft and a self locking gear connection between said shaft and said awning frame for raising and lowering said frame, a rope connection between said awning frame and the window frame for shirring said awning, and a connection between said operator and said rope operable to actuate said rope to shirr the awning when said awning frame is raised.

9. An awning comprising, in combination, an awning frame adapted to be pivotally attached to the frame of a window or the like over which the awning is to be mounted, an awning connected to the window frame and to the free end of said awning frame, an operator having a worm and a worm gear operated thereby, a connection between said worm gear and said awning frame for raising and lowering the awning, a rope connection between said awning frame and the Window frame for shirring said awning, a connection between said rope and said worm operable to actuate said rope to shirr the awning as the awning frame is raised, and a spring acting to counterbalance the weight of the awning frame.

10. In an awning construction for use over windows and the like, an awning frame adapted to be pivotally mounted on the frame of a window, an awning secured at one edge to the awning frame and the other edge adapted to be attached to the frame of the window, a plurality of ropes connected to said awning frame, a plurality of pulleys adapted to be mounted on the window frame adjacent the upper edge of said awning and through which said ropes pass, and an operator for said awning frame and ropes comprising a support mountable on the window frame, a shaft mounted in said support and nonrotatably connected to said awning frame, a worm gear segment fixed on said shaft, a second shaft mounted in said support'and having a worm thereon engaging said worm gear, a wheel fixed on second shaft for rotation therewith, a 

